Influencers blast SportPesa CEO Ronald Karauri’s unpaid defence gigs after he hired them to push back against damaging leaks from his alleged former lover. Several content creators have taken to social media in the past day to call him out publicly, saying they did the work but never saw the promised money.
The drama traces back to February when a man claiming to be Karauri’s ex, reportedly a forex trader, leaked private messages, screenshots, and videos that suggested an intimate relationship.
The claims spread fast across Kenyan gossip pages and TikTok. Karauri, who serves as Kasarani MP and leads SportPesa, hit back hard. He dared controversial blogger Edgar Obare to release any alleged tapes and offered 10 million shillings if they existed. He insisted he was straight, and the whole story was fabricated.
To counter the negative buzz, sources say Karauri quietly reached out to several influencers. He asked them to post content defending him, downplaying the leaks, or shifting focus to his work as an MP and businessman.
Some creators made videos praising his business record or questioning the motives behind the leaks. Others posted supportive comments or stories framing the situation as an attack on a successful Kenyan.
Now those same influencers say they are still waiting for payment. A few posted receipts of their work alongside messages demanding what they are owed.
One wrote that he delivered exactly what was agreed but got ghosted after the storm died down. Another shared chat screenshot shows initial talks about rates and timelines, then radio silence once the job was done. The amounts mentioned range from a few thousand to tens of thousands of shillings per post, depending on the influencer’s reach.
Kenyan creators often rely on brand deals and one-off gigs to make ends meet. When big names like a sitting MP and company CEO hire them, many assume payment will come smoothly.
This situation leaves a sour taste. Some influencers say they turned down other paid work to handle Karauri’s request on short notice. Now they feel used, especially since the defence campaign helped quiet the initial noise around the leaks.
Karauri has not issued a direct response to the payment complaints yet. His team has stayed quiet on the matter while he continues his parliamentary duties and business activities.
SportPesa remains one of the biggest betting brands in the region, and Karauri’s political profile in Kasarani keeps him in the public eye. The fresh wave of criticism could stir up the old scandal again.
Online, reactions split in typical Kenyan social media fashion. Some users side with the influencers, calling it poor business etiquette and warning others to demand contracts upfront.
Others defend Karauri, suggesting the creators are trying to milk the situation or that the work was not up to standard. A few jokes have started circulating, turning the unpaid gigs into memes about “defending the boss for free”.
The episode highlights how messy things can get when politics, business, and personal leaks collide in Kenya’s influencer economy. Content creators wield real power in shaping narratives these days, but they also operate in a space where verbal agreements sometimes replace formal contracts. When those agreements break down, the fallout plays out very publicly.
For now, the influencers keep tagging Karauri and SportPesa in their posts, hoping to push for resolution. Whether he settles quietly or the back-and-forth drags on, this story shows that even high-profile figures can face heat when everyday hustlers feel shortchanged. Kenyan netizens will keep watching to see if the money finally lands or if more voices join the chorus of complaints.
